Description SUMMARY OF INTERVIEW: AC moved to the United States in 1990 to find work in Connecticut then Massachusetts then DC. He worked as a taxi driver for a couple years before finding a permanent position as a security guard for commercial buildings within DC. As soon as he moved to the United States he began English classes and now takes computer classes to increase his skills. He retired in 2015 and began receiving Social Security and also withdrew his 401k. He is currently unemployed and focusing on his health because he was unable to do so when he was working. He has plans to learn Microsoft PowerPoint take his skills back to his homeland to teach children the application as well as English. PROJECT’S OBJECTIVES: The Homeless Voices Amplification Co-op (HVAC) works to amplify stories of unhoused individuals’ past and present work experiences. Recognizing that unhoused individuals are the most valuable source of knowledge on the realities of their employment, HVAC partners with the unhoused to create space for strategic community reflection as a means to further activism for economic justice. HVAC believes stories have the power to humanize individuals and undermine stigmas and stereotypes in ways statistics cannot. HVAC intends to draw upon the power of these stories to create a powerful, multi-dimensional online platform that can enhance efforts to mobilize the community.
SUMMARY OF INTERVIEW: Aida Basnight-Peery was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and raised in Chicago, Illionois. After getting her Bachelors and Masters degrees, Basnight-Peery split most of her time between Chicago and D.C. While in Chicago, she had two kids, a daughter and a son, now 20 and 23-years-old, respectively. Although she has had several different jobs, she has worked most of her life as a secretary, but now, she is working part-time with Street Sense, although it is still difficult to make ends meet. PROJECT’S OBJECTIVES: The Homeless Voices Amplification Co-op (HVAC) works to amplify stories of unhoused individuals’ past and present work experiences. Recognizing that unhoused individuals are the most valuable source of knowledge on the realities of their employment, HVAC partners with the unhoused to create space for strategic community reflection as a means to further activism for economic justice. HVAC believes stories have the power to humanize individuals and undermine stigmas and stereotypes in ways statistics cannot. HVAC intends to draw upon the power of these stories to create a powerful, multi-dimensional online platform that can enhance efforts to mobilize the community.
SUMMARY OF INTERVIEW: Akube Ndoromo is currently homeless and unemployed in the city of Washington, DC. He is originally from Kenya, but has lived in the capital since 1996. According to Ndoromo, he became a multimillionaire through two small business ventures. After a scandal involving fraud at his latest business he was imprisoned. He maintained his innocence, which helped him in the fight for his early release. Ndoromo claims during this time he lost his wife through divorce and has found comfort in the community of Columbia Heights. In the interview, Ndoromo recalls his professional life and higher education, the racism and xenophobia he has experienced as an immigrant, and his homeless status. PROJECT’S OBJECTIVES: The Homeless Voices Amplification Co-op (HVAC) works to amplify stories of unhoused individuals’ past and present work experiences. Recognizing that unhoused individuals are the most valuable source of knowledge on the realities of their employment, HVAC partners with the unhoused to create space for strategic community reflection as a means to further activism for economic justice. HVAC believes stories have the power to humanize individuals and undermine stigmas and stereotypes in ways statistics cannot. HVAC intends to draw upon the power of these stories to create a powerful, multi-dimensional online platform that can enhance efforts to mobilize the community.
SUMMARY OF INTERVIEW: In this interview, Claire Davis talks with Alexis Lindsay, the Special Events and Communications Manager at Covenant House Washington. Ms. Lindsay talks about why youth come to Covenant House and the demographics of the homeless youth population in Washington, DC. Ms. Lindsay also reflects on how to end youth homelessness and the types of services that Covenant House Washington provides for youth. PROJECT’S OBJECTIVES: The interviews conducted as part of the DC Oral History and Social Justice Project record how unhoused residents of the greater DC area view the history of homelessness – how did homelessness become such an entrenched part of the city. The interviews will be used to create critical dialogue among people who are currently unhoused in Washington, DC, and then they may be used to assist future advocacy efforts.
SUMMARY: In this interview, Washington, D.C. native Alisa Hill speaks about the phenomenon of homelessness in the city. Alisa shares her personal experiences with homelessness, including her efforts to find shelter and how being homeless has affected her relationships with others. Alisa also discusses her advocacy efforts to bring attention to the issue of homelessness and her outreach with homeless children. PROJECT’S OBJECTIVES: The interviews conducted as part of the DC Oral History and Social Justice Project record how unhoused residents of the greater DC area view the history of homelessness – how did homelessness become such an entrenched part of the city. The interviews will be used to create critical dialogue among people who are currently unhoused in Washington, DC, and then they may be used to assist future advocacy efforts.
SUMMARY: Anthony is a recovering drug addict who has mainly worked as a carpenter. He is fifty-nine years old and was born in Manhattan before moving to Puerto Rico and then back to the United States. He said he was a functioning addict for most of his life and always been able to make ends meet, until developing an addiction to crack-cocaine in the late 2000s. He has been in recovery and not working for the past two years but feels confident his skills will get him back into the workforce when he feels ready to move on. PROJECT’S OBJECTIVES: The Homeless Voices Amplification Co-op (HVAC) works to amplify stories of unhoused individuals’ past and present work experiences. Recognizing that unhoused individuals are the most valuable source of knowledge on the realities of their employment, HVAC partners with the unhoused to create space for strategic community reflection as a means to further activism for economic justice. HVAC believes stories have the power to humanize individuals and undermine stigmas and stereotypes in ways statistics cannot. HVAC intends to draw upon the power of these stories to create a powerful, multi-dimensional online platform that can enhance efforts to mobilize the community.
PROJECT’S OBJECTIVES: The Homeless Voices Amplification Co-op (HVAC) works to amplify stories of unhoused individuals’ past and present work experiences. Recognizing that unhoused individuals are the most valuable source of knowledge on the realities of their employment, HVAC partners with the unhoused to create space for strategic community reflection as a means to further activism for economic justice. HVAC believes stories have the power to humanize individuals and undermine stigmas and stereotypes in ways statistics cannot. HVAC intends to draw upon the power of these stories to create a powerful, multi-dimensional online platform that can enhance efforts to mobilize the community
Curtis Harrison recalls finding out he had HIV while incarcerated for a 20 year sentence. He talks of his time living in homeless shelters in D.C., in Joseph’s House, and temporary housing.
SUMMARY: This a half-hour follow-up interview with Washington, D.C. Hip Hop artist Head Roc also known as Vance Levy. This interview’s content returns to the idea of social and cultural changes in D.C. and its immediate suburbs with a focus on specific cultural landscapes and engagements of people in this time. In it Head Roc, details places in DC that nurtured his own cultural development. He offers a critique of portrayals of the city as dangerous or violent, viewing such notions as stereotypes of the city. He also offers a critique of the educational system that he experienced. The interview concludes with a discussion on gentrification in DC and it possible future effects on the city’s Black cultures.
SUMMARY: Interview with David Edwards explores what he believes to be the causes of homelessness in Washington, DC and why homelessness continues to be such a persistent issue. Edwards recalls his work history, history as a whistleblower, and history of his own periods of homelessness. Edwards is a self-described advocate-activist and details his plan for reducing homelessness in DC. Edwards is also a poet and novelist, and shares poems and plot lines from his novel. PROJECT’S OBJECTIVES: The interviews conducted as part of the DC Oral History and Social Justice Project record how unhoused residents of the greater DC area view the history of homelessness – how did homelessness become such an entrenched part of the city. The interviews will be used to create critical dialogue among people who are currently unhoused in Washington, DC, and then they may be used to assist future advocacy efforts.
PROJECT’S OBJECTIVES: The Homeless Voices Amplification Co-op (HVAC) works to amplify stories of unhoused individuals’ past and present work experiences. Recognizing that unhoused individuals are the most valuable source of knowledge on the realities of their employment, HVAC partners with the unhoused to create space for strategic community reflection as a means to further activism for economic justice. HVAC believes stories have the power to humanize individuals and undermine stigmas and stereotypes in ways statistics cannot. HVAC intends to draw upon the power of these stories to create a powerful, multi-dimensional online platform that can enhance efforts to mobilize the community.
PROJECT’S OBJECTIVES: The Homeless Voices Amplification Co-op (HVAC) works to amplify stories of unhoused individuals’ past and present work experiences. Recognizing that unhoused individuals are the most valuable source of knowledge on the realities of their employment, HVAC partners with the unhoused to create space for strategic community reflection as a means to further activism for economic justice. HVAC believes stories have the power to humanize individuals and undermine stigmas and stereotypes in ways statistics cannot. HVAC intends to draw upon the power of these stories to create a powerful, multi-dimensional online platform that can enhance efforts to mobilize the community.
PROJECT’S OBJECTIVES: The Homeless Voices Amplification Co-op (HVAC) works to amplify stories of unhoused individuals’ past and present work experiences. Recognizing that unhoused individuals are the most valuable source of knowledge on the realities of their employment, HVAC partners with the unhoused to create space for strategic community reflection as a means to further activism for economic justice. HVAC believes stories have the power to humanize individuals and undermine stigmas and stereotypes in ways statistics cannot. HVAC intends to draw upon the power of these stories to create a powerful, multi-dimensional online platform that can enhance efforts to mobilize the community.
Eric Jonathan Sheptock, a working homeless person addresses how Covid-19 has impacted him. He works for a company that provides porta-potties and hand washing stations for events and has had his hours dramatically cut. His company contracts with the city to now provide these services to homeless encampments, and he has gained a greater sense of the large numbers of people living outside. He is currently in a hotel under quarantine after discovering the person who sleeps near him at his shelter contracted Covid-19, but he does not have symptoms. He hopes we do not forget about the homeless when things go back to normal, that we work together to end homelessness and increase access to affordable housing and living wage jobs. This video is part of the Humanities Truck's From Me To You: A Covid-19 Oral History Project. https://humanitiestruck.com/frommetoyou/
SUMMARY: Eric Sheptock’s interview begins with his pilgrimage from Florida to Washington, DC in 2005 tracing his initial impetus to move through his current advocacy efforts as SHARC (Shelter, Housing and Real Change) chairman. Mr. Sheptock shares his insights on shelters, relationships, affordable housing as well as his personal experience as an advocate for the growing population of unhoused individuals in Washington, DC. PROJECT’S OBJECTIVES: The interviews conducted as part of the DC Oral History and Social Justice Project record how unhoused residents of the greater DC area view the history of homelessness – how did homelessness become such an entrenched part of the city. The interviews will be used to create critical dialogue among people who are currently unhoused in Washington, DC, and then they may be used to assist future advocacy efforts.
SUMMARY: Harry Washington was born in Georgia, but grew up in Washington DC. His parents were ministers. During his childhood, he took martial arts classes, which he believes taught him values and principles. He received his high school diploma and a culinary degree and worked as a chef at a hotel in DuPont Circle for many years, but the hotel closed down causing him to lose his job. After Washington’s parents died, his sister sold his family house without giving him his share. He is currently living with his niece, who is the daughter of his schizophrenic younger brother. Overall, Washington believes there is a widespread degradation of values within the United States. He believes the education system no longer teaches people to think for themselves and causes people to only think about their own interests. Washington cites the current presidential election and his sister’s selfish behavior as examples of a general loss of principles within the United States. Washington also mentions his experience with the police, both personal experience and witness to unfair treatment from the police force. PROJECT’S OBJECTIVES: The Homeless Voices Amplification Co-op (HVAC) works to amplify stories of unhoused individuals’ past and present work experiences. Recognizing that unhoused individuals are the most valuable source of knowledge on the realities of their employment, HVAC partners with the unhoused to create space for strategic community reflection as a means to further activism for economic justice. HVAC believes stories have the power to humanize individuals and undermine stigmas and stereotypes in ways statistics cannot. HVAC intends to draw upon the power of these stories to create a powerful, multi-dimensional online platform that can enhance efforts to mobilize the community.
SUMMARY: The interview with Hope Lassiter goes over main points such as her past and current working experiences, conditions of the jobs, ability to make ends meet, skills acquired, barriers to seeking employment and her own vision for the homeless. It touches upon her acquiring license at Roosevelt STAY, her acorn and day labor jobs, as well ass her security jobs at CSC. She has typing skills and would like to get a permanent job and go back to school. She currently works on commission at Street Sense. She is homeless since she was 29 years old and has been unemployed since 2013. Her jobs do not usually lead to future one and she thinks homeless need to get out of the shelters and be provided with resources so they can attend proper job interviews. Ultimately, the homeless need better wages. PROJECT’S OBJECTIVES: The Homeless Voices Amplification Co-op (HVAC) works to amplify stories of unhoused individuals’ past and present work experiences. Recognizing that unhoused individuals are the most valuable source of knowledge on the realities of their employment, HVAC partners with the unhoused to create space for strategic community reflection as a means to further activism for economic justice. HVAC believes stories have the power to humanize individuals and undermine stigmas and stereotypes in ways statistics cannot. HVAC intends to draw upon the power of these stories to create a powerful, multi-dimensional online platform that can enhance efforts to mobilize the community.
SUMMARY: Jackie Grant Sr was born in South Carolina, but raised in Washington, DC. He considers himself a Washingtonian. He found work in South Carolina that was similar to work his mother had experienced in earlier years (picking string beans). Grant did not complete high school, but was offered an art scholarship to college. After trying to do work and school, he suffered from exhaustion and had a breakdown. He experienced homelessness, job loss, and divorce. He has worked several types of jobs, including special police officer, aide on Capitol Hill, and bus driver. His daughter was murdered in 2010, and he has three grandchildren. He often cited the importance of spirituality and family. PROJECT’S OBJECTIVES: The Homeless Voices Amplification Co-op (HVAC) works to amplify stories of unhoused individuals’ past and present work experiences. Recognizing that unhoused individuals are the most valuable source of knowledge on the realities of their employment, HVAC partners with the unhoused to create space for strategic community reflection as a means to further activism for economic justice. HVAC believes stories have the power to humanize individuals and undermine stigmas and stereotypes in ways statistics cannot. HVAC intends to draw upon the power of these stories to create a powerful, multi-dimensional online platform that can enhance efforts to mobilize the community.